The policy of War Communism of 1918-1921 is the internal policy of the Soviet state, which was carried out during the Civil War.
Prerequisites and reasons for the introduction of the policy of war communism
With the victory of the October Revolution, the new government began the most daring transformations in the country. However, the outbreak of the Civil War, as well as the extreme depletion of material resources, led to the fact that the government faced the problem of finding solutions to its salvation. The paths were extremely tough and unpopular and were called the "policy of war communism."
Some elements of this system were borrowed by the Bolsheviks from the policy of the government of A. Kerensky. Also, requisitions took place, and practically a ban on the private trade in bread was introduced, nevertheless, the state kept under control its accounting and procurement at persistently low prices.
In the countryside, the seizure of the landowners' lands was in full swing, which the peasants themselves divided among themselves, according to the eaters. This process was complicated by the fact that embittered former peasants returned to the village, but in military overcoats and with weapons. Food supplies to the cities have practically ceased. The peasant war began.
Promotional video:
Characteristic features of war communism
- Centralized management of the entire economy.
- The practical completion of the nationalization of the entire industry.
- Agricultural products completely fell into the state monopoly.
- Minimizing private trade.
- Restriction of commodity-money turnover.
- Equalization in all areas, especially in the area of essential goods.
- Closure of private banks and confiscation of deposits.
Industry nationalization
The first nationalizations began under the Provisional Government. It was in June-July 1917 that the "flight of capital" from Russia began. Among the first to leave the country were foreign entrepreneurs, followed by domestic industrialists.
The situation worsened with the coming to power of the Bolsheviks, but here a new question arose of how to deal with enterprises that were left without owners and managers.
The first-born of nationalization was the factory of the Likinskaya manufactory partnership of A. V. Smirnov. Further, this process could not be stopped. Enterprises were nationalized almost daily, and by November 1918 there were already 9,542 enterprises in the hands of the Soviet state. By the end of the War Communist period, nationalization was generally completed. At the head of this whole process was the Supreme Council of the National Economy.
Monopolization of foreign trade
The same policy was pursued with regard to foreign trade. It was taken under the control of the People's Commissariat of Trade and Industry and later declared a state monopoly. At the same time, the merchant fleet was also nationalized.
Labor service
The slogan "who does not work, he does not eat" was actively implemented. Labor service was introduced for all "non-labor classes", and a little later compulsory labor service was extended to all citizens of the Land of Soviets. On January 29, 1920, this postulate was even legalized in the decree of the Council of People's Commissars "On the procedure for universal labor service."
Food dictatorship
The food problem has become a vital issue. The famine engulfed practically the entire country and forced the authorities to continue the grain monopoly introduced by the Provisional Government and the food appropriation system introduced by the tsarist government.
Per capita consumption norms for peasants were introduced, and they corresponded to the norms that existed under the Provisional Government. All the remaining bread passed into the hands of the government at fixed prices. The task was very difficult, and food detachments with special powers were created to carry it out.
On the other hand, food rations were adopted and approved, which were divided into four categories, and measures were envisaged for accounting and distribution of food.
The results of the policy of war communism
A tough policy helped the Soviet government turn the general situation in its favor and win on the fronts of the Civil War.
But on the whole, such a policy could not be effective in the long term. She helped the Bolsheviks to hold out, but destroyed industrial ties and aggravated the government's relations with the broad masses of the population. The economy not only did not rebuild, but began to fall apart even faster.
The negative manifestations of the policy of war communism led to the fact that the Soviet government began to look for new ways of developing the country. It was replaced by the New Economic Policy (NEP).
Author: Vladimir Ivanov